Churchill Downs Inc., jockeys announce 3-year agreement

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Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc. and the Jockeys' Guild on Monday announced a three-year agreement for CDI and its three thoroughbred racetracks to continue funding the trade group's rider-support programs.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Churchill's three thoroughbred tracks are its Central Avenue namesake, Arlington International Racecourse (aka Arlington Park) near Chicago and Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots in New Orleans.

"This agreement continues our strong support of the Jockey's Guild and the jockeys who compete not only at our facilities, but across the country," Churchill President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Carstanjen said in a statement.

"The funds from this ... agreement will be used to provide necessary benefits, including life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and temporary disability to our active members, as well as life insurance and aid to our permanently disabled members," guild National Manager Terry Meyocks said in the statement. "We also use these funds to provide the active, qualifying jockeys who regularly ride at CDI racetracks with supplemental health care reimbursements."

Meyocks' statement said the agreement means Churchill and the guild can pursue other means to promote the industry.

The two organizations have had an acrimonious past at times.

In 2011, Churchill decided to suspend annual payments, on behalf of its then-four tracks, effective for 2012 because of concerns that it was paying more than other racing companies and because it couldn't verify how the guild was using the money. Churchill then early in 2012 agreed to continue the payments.